Let me first say that my major learning ground is our Uechi Kata, so I am asking this question to hopefully generate thought and discussion.

So let us take Sanchin, Seisan and Sanseirui the big three original Uechi Kata.

Look at the movements.

Which direction are we going the big majority of the time – forward.

Angular movement and absorption are up next and there is a good amount of it in Uechi Kata particularly if you open your mind to different origins of attack.

And YES, there is a rare occasion where there is a draw back or even a jump/step back to show that it CAN be an option. But it is very rare.

AND what is the move that immediately follows any draw or step back??

An aggressive drive forward.

Which matches George’s approach to flinch back and then engage. Definitely something to be part of our skill set according to Uechi Kata but perhaps not what should be the major focus of our training based on the movements of Uechi Kata.

So in most cases IF IF IF IF you look at the Uechi kata we are engaging immediately and aggressively.

Seems to me that if Uechi is a Kata drive martial art (which I believe), then we should be training to engage and rarely step back.

I think that the key to everything you ever wanted to know about Uechi Ryu is in the Kata.

Study the kata deeply and you will find Uechi Ryu.

Uechi Ryu kata do not go back except in rare occasions (perhaps that totally unexpected true ambush George prepares for in the drill he posted ).

Now is the time to focus on the more major movements given to us in our Kata.

By the way I also believe it is totally acceptable to play with any drill, teaching any skill set, that you want.

It is totally acceptable to play with any drill that explores any avenue or technique or principle you want.

I am all for exploring any and all aspects.

But as for the core foundations of Uechi Ryu the drills should be derived directly from our Kata and our Kata do not go back the majority of the time so the drills should not go back the majority of the time.

I guess I am really not so much a heretic as I would love to believe, instead I am a die hard true Uechika truly believing in the effectiveness of our Kata.

(Sometimes I think that the reason many Karateka and others are no longer see the value of Kata practice is because the Kata are not taken into their drills and applications.)

I truly feel the questions asked need to be pondered by Uechika.

As always please come to your own conclusions (of course) and I do wish you would share them here along with how you derived them.

In the end I guess you will just have to call me a Uechi Traditionalist or maybe a manly man.

But I guess I am not a true manly man because I said it was okay to go backwards sometimes as long as you remember to switch up and win the fight.

I see it as a shoot and/or a sprawl , Uechi is a grappling style , grappling and striking if youd prefer .

If someone goes for a double or single leg you can sprawl and use the double thrusts to drive em down . If your inside you can raise the arms and go for double underhooks .

with double underhooks you control the sprawl , it`s very difficult for them to take you down from here .

I leave the Sanchin thrusts and skip ahead , but I have a lot of out there applcations from there .

the double press down , well i see it as he has you in a body lock/clinch , you put weight back and down onto his arms to prevent him lifting and throwing you , you then double strike to the ears or temples or neck ... in the only way you can , around his arms and to the only target you have from this linch , the head ....

you then bushiken the neck , the circular movement being a grab and push up and away , feeding grabs and strikes , making some distance ....

surprise surprise he grabs your hand , you turn into the next set , seizing the wrist hes grabbed , and the neck you throw him over your hip with the turn .... bam !!!

more circle thingys .... can be block arm drag and groin grab and a simple throw , pul the arm and lift the leg/groin bye bye bad guy .... or my favourite is going under the arm dragging his arm behind his back , then hooking the arm up locking the shoulder lock in place ... lots of variations here .....

more to come ...

Last edited by Stryke on Sun Oct 09, 2005 7:23 am, edited 1 time in total.

hes to close your getting pounded , go for a hug ... underhooks under both arms , smother him , stick your forehead in his Jaw , grind him up ...

hey lets cause some pain lets take our wrestling position and add some shokens ... grab some flesh and jam him in the armpits , spin him around however you like .....

lets wauke underneath his arm turn him and drive some space with the elbow ... weve taken control ...

lets wauke the arm , hit him with a bushiken , spin him with another seize the groin , endless possibiltys , it`s all grab and strike , manipulate and strike . No jumping out of the way anywhere here folks .....

You turn into the attack , you cover , you seize , you transfer .... (NOTICE NO BLOCKS IN THE KATA YET )

you do a short kick to the shins or ghoulies , hes bent a bit you drive a knee in to knock the stuffing out , your getting over him , he will grab on .. you shoken the shite out of him , back of neck / throat/ spine , its all gravy ....

you finish him by Wauke/twisting whatever you can , you can always nukite or you can even see it as a arm wrench or break ... lets get creative ....

No jumping back involved ....

lets turn into the attack , lets cover grab transfer and attack , bread and butter uechi , control and attack , no distancing , no jumping , jsut gurad cover and attack , the next turn , lets call it a throw , we have struck and seized so we might as well ....

self explanatory the next yes ?

three or so , grab manipulate and strike .... always grabbing this uechi huh , Ive looked thorugh the big three and am yet to find a strike without a preceding grab ....

Good stuff Stryke and I admire your ability to put down what your thinking and I`m able to visualize what your doing I`m thinking of a short answer before I head to work and what keeps coming to mind is ...
Kata is teaching me to make the best of the space I occupy or wish to occupy in a confrintation. This of course is dependant on my ability to make what the "kata teaches" fit into who I am.
Confussed, hey so am I but I think I`m starting to get it

To study the three is time consuming to say the least ,but its very economical ,I could speed up the teaching ,or introduction of the three ,but allowing a digestion time scale in each area ,again allows a principle of learning ; to economically digest .
Three distinct areas of economical study ,which will slowly be digested into a mindset that is a triad .

If you are training to learn kata, then it will take a very looooong time. If you are using kata as a tool then you can learn things pretty quickly withit.

Marcus, I think you are correct, but to see those things in a kata you have to understand something about grappling. I don't think kata techniques were ever meant to be discovered but were the notes on fighting that were given to the student along with instruction or at least demonstration on their use. In Shotokan I don't think anybody would ever guess what the yamagamae in Jutte is used for unless they have seen it in application at least once.

Education of the the student is key to seeing the obvious techniques in kata. The more I'm taught about the body, striking, throwing and targeting the more I see in the kata. And what I see isn't hidden or mystical.

Education of the the student is key to seeing the obvious techniques in kata. The more I'm taught about the body, striking, throwing and targeting the more I see in the kata. And what I see isn't hidden or mystical.

Absolutely Mike , Once you study applications and violence , you find you can find endless possibilitys in kata .